Chiedu Oraka: POWER UP Music Creator
Short Bio: Hailing from North Hull Estate, Chiedu Oraka is a pioneering voice in UK rap, known for fusing infectious, dancefloor-ready anthems with raw, reflective storytelling. A proud representative of the Black, working-class experience in a predominantly white, economically deprived region, Oraka is reshaping the narrative around Northern music and identity. In March 2025, he was named Best Newcomer at the Northern Music Awards, a powerful acknowledgment of his breakthrough year. His 2024 mixtape Misfit (released via Launchpad+ and EMI North) explored themes of Black identity, masculinity, mental health, and marginalisation. The project received critical acclaim from NME, Clash, Wonderland, The Telegraph, and DJ Mag, while also earning strong national radio support from BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and 6Music. “Helly Hansen 6” was playlisted on BBC 6Music for four weeks, and Oraka was BBC Radio 1’s first-ever Future Flex freestyle performer. His live performances are equally impactful. In 2024 alone, he debuted at Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing stage, toured the UK with sold-out headline shows, and performed internationally at SXSW, supporting Skepta for the British Music Embassy. He has also supported Stormzy, Casisdead, KRS-One, and Akala. As a co-founder of the Lockdown collective and its label ROOM 73, Oraka has helped push tracks like “Flex,” “Men Behaving Badly,” and the viral “Darcy,” which spent over 300 days on Spotify’s Grime Shutdown playlist. In 2025, his fashion collaboration with ACRA was featured in both GQ and Vogue, reflecting his cultural influence beyond music.
Concise Description of activity: Power Up will support the rollout of my next 5-track EP, covering production, PR, marketing to build on last year’s momentum and reach new audiences.